Page 2 of Fat Arranged Mate
I clear my throat, looking down at Liam.
"All done. Try to keep it dry for twenty-four hours, then you can remove the bandage."
He nods, sliding off the examination table.
"Thanks, Sera." He hesitates by the door, then adds quietly, "Most of us are glad you're here."
The simple kindness catches me off guard. "Thank you, sweetheart. Be careful on those rocks next time."
After he leaves, I busy myself cleaning up, wiping down surfaces with perhaps more force than necessary. The antiseptic smell burns my nostrils, a familiar bite in my sinuses, but it's grounding. Better than thinking about what I just heard.
The door opens, bringing a rush of forest-scented air and Ruby's familiar presence. My first real friend in Silvercreek, aside from Caleb and the other former Cheslems.
"Those idiots," Ruby says without preamble. "I swear, some people have nothing better to do than run their mouths."
I keep my back turned, organizing supplies. "I didn't hear anything."
"Right." Ruby leans against the counter, her red hair pulled back in a short, stubby braid. She even manages to make that look elegant. "You shouldn't listen to them, Sera."
"Hard not to when they're right outside the window." I close the cabinet, finally turning to face her. "It's fine. I'm used to it. It’s not like my old pack didn’t say far worse."
Ruby's eyes narrow. "It's not fine. You saved lives during the Cheslem conflict. You've been treating pack members for months. You belong here as much as anyone."
I shrug, uncomfortable with her defense. "It's only been three months. Trust takes time."
"Trust has nothing to do with judgment and prejudice." Ruby's head tilts to the side, eyes sharp and perceptive as they slide up and down me. "I dealt with similar garbage before mating with James. Some people just fear what they don't understand."
"And what don't they understand about me?" I try to keep my tone light, but bitterness seeps through. "That I was born into a corrupted pack? That I survived the only way I could? That I'm grateful every day just to be alive and safe?"
The words hang between us, heavier than I intended. Ruby doesn't flinch.
"They don't understand strength when they see it," she says simply. "Their loss."
I busy myself washing my hands, letting the cool water soothe my heated skin. "How are you feeling?”
She allows the subject change, shrugging. "No morning sickness yet, though it’s early days. Luna told me she barely got any, but I think she’s just magic or something. I keep waiting to… feel it. I don’t know. James is already convinced it’s a girl, and we’ve only known a week.”
"And what do you think?"
Ruby smiles, serene and mysterious. "I think my child will be exactly who they're meant to be."
I dry my hands, trying to match her smile. "Wise words from Mother Ruby."
"I’m known for my wisdom," she says, settling into the chair by my desk. "By the way, Luna asked me to remind you about tomorrow."
My stomach tightens. "What's tomorrow?"
Ruby gives me a serene look that says she knows I'm playing dumb. "The lottery. Dylan Zaleska's matching ceremony."
"Right. That." I turn away, reorganizing items that don't need reorganizing. "I wasn't planning to attend."
"It's mandatory for all eligible females, Sera. Pack tradition."
I close my eyes briefly, exhaling slowly. "I'm barely pack. Surely that exempts me?"
"Nice try. All unmated females over twenty and under thirty must participate. Your absence,” she grimaces in sympathy—“will definitely be noted.”
The lottery. Silvercreek's traditional mate-matching ceremony, where one male is paired with a randomly selected female. No trials like the old days, just names drawn and fate decided. I've heard the stories of how Ruby and Luna found their mates this way, how their initial reluctance transformed into true bonds.
